Turn On, Tune In And Get Better?

Disinformation readers who have read Graham Hancock‘s recent books Supernatural and Entangled are well aware that hallucinogens can be powerful and highly effective medicine, but until recently US government policy more or less prohibited any scientific research using them. The tide is starting to turn, as this article from the LA Times makes clear:

What a long, strange trip it’s been. In the 1960s and ’70s, a rebellious generation embraced hallucinogens and a wide array of street drugs to “turn on, tune in and drop out.” Almost half a century later, magic mushrooms, LSD, Ecstasy and ketamine are being studied for legitimate therapeutic uses. Scientists believe these agents have the potential to help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, drug or alcohol addiction, unremitting pain or depression and the existential anxiety of terminal illness.

“Scientifically, these compounds are way too important not to study,” said Johns Hopkins psychopharmacologist Roland Griffiths, who conducted the psilocybin trial.

In their next incarnation, these drugs may help the psychologically wounded tune in to their darkest feelings and memories and turn therapy sessions into heightened opportunities to learn and heal.

“We’re trying to break a social mind-set saying these are strictly drugs of abuse,” said Rick Doblin, a public policy expert who founded the Multidisciplinary Assn. for Psychedelic Studies in 1986 to encourage research on therapeutic uses for medical marijuana and hallucinogens. “It’s not the drug but how the drug is used that matters.”

Regulators and medical researchers remain wary. But among at least some experts at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, the shift in attitude “has been dramatic,” Doblin said.

Researchers explored the usefulness of hallucinogenic agents as an adjunct to psychotherapy in the 1950s and ’60s. But allegations that hallucinogens were used in government-funded “mind control” efforts, freewheeling experimentation by proponents like Dr. Timothy Leary, and the drugs’ appeal to a generation in revolt quashed legitimate research for decades…

Good luck convincing our government and the pharmaceutical companies that write its members obscene checks that it doesn’t exist.

(by the way. . . what the hell just happened to the comments?)

Mr Willow

“We’re trying to break a social mind-set saying these are strictly drugs of abuse,”

You mean they’ve finally gotten past ‘reefer madness’? And not only that, but considered that all these substances could be used to the benefit of those ingesting them? That’s great.

Good luck convincing our government and the pharmaceutical companies that write its members obscene checks of such a positive outlook.

(by the way. . . what the hell just happened to the comments?)

Disinfonaut

Does Mr. Hancock offer “payola” to Disinfo.com?

In the name of transparency and full disclosure, I’d like to know why there are so many stories about him and advertisements for him.

Disinfonaut

Does Mr. Hancock offer “payola” to Disinfo.com?

In the name of transparency and full disclosure, I’d like to know why there are so many stories about him and advertisements for him.

http://disinfo.com/ Majestic

Disinformation is the publisher of the two books by Graham mentioned in this post.

http://disinfo.com Majestic

Disinformation is the publisher of the two books by Graham mentioned in this post.

http://disinfo.com Majestic

Disinformation is the publisher of the two books by Graham mentioned in this post.

Anonymous

If people ever want to get the “Legalize Psychadelics” movement really going, they’ll have to start with a brilliant disinformation campaign belittling their effectiveness.

That is the real problem, here. Profit can be made on anything if you’re willing to rig the market. The FDA doesn’t really seem too serious about rigorously reviewing drugs for side effects before approval. Where the real friction begins is when it becomes clear that psychadelics can be part of a programme that reinforces personal autonomy.

That’s the central issue. How would you ever get a decent war under way if you had all these happy, well-balanced people wandering about?

Anonymous

If people ever want to get the “Legalize Psychadelics” movement really going, they’ll have to start with a brilliant disinformation campaign belittling their effectiveness.

That is the real problem, here. Profit can be made on anything if you’re willing to rig the market. The FDA doesn’t really seem too serious about rigorously reviewing drugs for side effects before approval. Where the real friction begins is when it becomes clear that psychadelics can be part of a programme that reinforces personal autonomy.

That’s the central issue. How would you ever get a decent war under way if you had all these happy, well-balanced people wandering about?

Liam_McGonagle

If people ever want to get the “Legalize Psychadelics” movement really going, they’ll have to start with a brilliant disinformation campaign belittling their effectiveness.

That is the real problem, here. Profit can be made on anything if you’re willing to rig the market. The FDA doesn’t really seem too serious about rigorously reviewing drugs for side effects before approval. Where the real friction begins is when it becomes clear that psychadelics can be part of a programme that reinforces personal autonomy.

That’s the central issue. How would you ever get a decent war under way if you had all these happy, well-balanced people wandering about?

Dust

They always refer to this revival as if in the 60s these drugs were only used for getting high and just now we’re realizing their therapeutic value. In the 60s they were doing the same studies on their applications in medicine and psychology and Leary wanted them to remain medically available so that they wouldn’t be made on the street but they demonized him as being the one who was promoting their reckless street use.

Dust

They always refer to this revival as if in the 60s these drugs were only used for getting high and just now we’re realizing their therapeutic value. In the 60s they were doing the same studies on their applications in medicine and psychology and Leary wanted them to remain medically available so that they wouldn’t be made on the street but they demonized him as being the one who was promoting their reckless street use.

shoelesselmo

i cant tell what hes getting at; is he saying long term aya (organic dmt) use leads to less seratonin reuptake sites. which i would think leads to a more depressed (less seritonin in the brain) state, or would it be the opposite? In any case hes wrong.

shoelesselmo

i cant tell what hes getting at; is he saying long term aya (organic dmt) use leads to less seratonin reuptake sites. which i would think leads to a more depressed (less seritonin in the brain) state, or would it be the opposite? In any case hes wrong.

Lmnop_nis

I am so sick and fucking tired of people telling other people what they can and can’t ingest. If someone wants to do drugs, then fucking let them do fucking drugs. Who cares what reasoning it is behind their want. That they want to should be the only reason someone needs. Humans are so goddamn meddlesome. Mind YOUR OWN fucking business.

Lmnop_nis

I am so sick and fucking tired of people telling other people what they can and can’t ingest. If someone wants to do drugs, then fucking let them do fucking drugs. Who cares what reasoning it is behind their want. That they want to should be the only reason someone needs. Humans are so goddamn meddlesome. Mind YOUR OWN fucking business.